Osprey

Courtesy of Sandi

We have another contributing photo from our free-lance photographer Sandi.  While out on their boat she was able to capture these great shot's of an Osprey. 

Osprey are one of the largest birds of prey in North America, the Osprey eats almost exclusively fish. It is one of the most widespread birds in the world, found on all continents except Antarctica.  Osprey wingspan is between 4 1/2 - 7 feet, and they stand up to about 2 feet.  That is indeed a large bird.

The Osprey readily builds its nest on manmade structures, such as telephone poles, channel markers, duck blinds, and nest platforms designed especially for it. Such platforms have become an important tool in reestablishing Ospreys in areas where they had disappeared. In some areas nests are placed almost exclusively on artificial structures.

Typical Osprey Nest

Osprey eggs do not hatch all at once, but instead the first chick hatches out up to five days before the last one. The eggs are about the size of Chicken eggs.  When hatched the older chick dominates its younger siblings, and can monopolize the food brought by the parents. If food is abundant, little aggression is seen amongst the chicks, but if food is limited, the younger chicks often starve.

Courtesy of Sandi

The Osprey is a fish-eating specialist, with live fish accounting for about 99% of its diet. Barbed pads on the soles of its feet help it grip slippery fish. When an Osprey takes a large fish to its nest, it carries the fish headfirst to make it as aerodynamic as possible.

As always we appreciate our fellow birders sending us their pictures.  Since Ospreys are summer birds on Long Island, San and I can't add them to our list.  But they are beautiful birds.

Thanks Sandi for the great pictures.